Davis, Harold, Firsching seek GOP nod in 13th

Sunday

Mar 2, 2014 at 8:58 PMMar 2, 2014 at 8:58 PM

By Bernard SchoenburgPolitical Writer

First-term U.S. Rep. Rodney Davis, R-Taylorville, faces Urbana attorney Erika Harold and veterinarian Mike Firsching of Moro in the March 18 GOP primary for the nomination to another two-year term in the House.

Davis, who worked on the staff of U.S. Rep. John Shimkus, R-Collinsville, for 16 years, ended up in Congress because former Rep. Tim Johnson, R-Urbana, dropped out of the contest after winning the 2012 primary in the new 13th Congressional District, which includes part of Springfield. Harold, a lawyer who was the 2003 Miss America, and Davis were among Republicans who presented their credentials to the 14 GOP county chairmen in the district who ultimately named Davis to the ballot.

In a nationally targeted general election race that November that saw outside groups spend millions of dollars, Davis defeated the 2012 Democratic candidate, Dr. David Gill of Bloomington, in a close contest that also saw an independent candidate, David Hartman of Edwardsville, get more than 7 percent.

This time around, Davis says he's more ready than ever to continue serving the 13th, Harold says she would bring a fresh perspective, and Firsching, who got less than 15 percent in a 2010 GOP primary against Shimkus in the old 19th Congressional District, is giving it another try.

Each of the candidates was asked to fill out questionnaires, and excerpts of those answers were used for this story. Their complete responses are available on SJ-R.com's Primary Election page.

Experience, knowledge

“I believe that my background before being elected and the knowledge I've gained since becoming a member (of Congress) is something which greatly benefits the people I serve,” Davis said.

He noted that he is on both transportation and infrastructure committees, and said he's the only member of the House who served on two conference committees, dealing with the agriculture and waterway policies.

“I believe that speaks to my ability to sit down with people of all political stripes to work out agreements for the good of our country,” he said.

Harold says she can expand the Republican base.

“As someone who comes from outside of the political establishment, my candidacy has been attractive to people from varied backgrounds who are looking for a break from the political status quo,” said Harold, noting an African-American heritage. “Moreover, the diversity of my background and set of life experiences have given me entree to individuals who either feel disengaged from the political process or who would not ordinarily engage in dialogue with a conservative.”

She also said her national community service involvement means she brings “new ideas to the table in arenas such as criminal justice reform, constitutional law and budgetary matters.”

Firsching said he understands economics and the Constitution.

“I know more about the Constitution than 99 percent of all attorneys,” Firsching said. “I have read 600 court decisions via the ELL (Constitution) Club.” The club's name stands for earn it, learn it or lose it.

ACA problems

None of the three Republican candidates likes the new Affordable Care Act in its current form.

Harold said the act has “created incentives for employers to both reduce the number of people they employ and the number of hours such employees work.” She also said there are not mechanisms in place to pay for the changes brought on by the new law.

“I would vote to repeal the ACA,” Harold said. But she would follow repeal with “consumer-driven reform,” including enhancing portability of insurance polices, eliminating disparities in how individual and employer-provided plans are taxed, and allowing sale of health insurance across state lines.

Davis said that since the first day of seeking to be in Congress, “I have made repeal and replacement of Obamacare one of my top priorities.” With waivers of some deadlines granted, and with the “botched roll-out” and the loss of coverage by many people, “it has been a disaster for the American people.”

Still, Davis said some changes should stay, such as coverage of pre-existing conditions and allowing children to stay on their parents' plans until age 26. He also would like to see insurance offered across state lines and small businesses able to join together for pool coverage. And he wants reforms in medical malpractice laws “to get away from the need for doctors to practice costly defensive medicine due to their worry over lawsuits.”

Firsching said he wants the federal government out of the health-care business.

“In my opinion, in spite of the Supreme Court decision, the Affordable Care Act is unconstitutional,” Firsching said. “At a minimum, people should be given the option to opt out.”

Too intrusive?

On the economy, Davis said federal policy should foster development of good-paying jobs and create “a regulatory environment that fosters growth and innovation.” He said he sought a seat on the transportation committee to help craft a new highway bill that would bring good jobs and revitalized infrastructure.

“I have heard directly from business owners that they do not have enough skilled workers to fill positions,” Davis added. He said he backs allowing people on unemployment benefits to use their own resources to go back to school without being penalized as a way to help them get back into the workforce.

Firsching said he would end the Federal Reserve system.

“The Fed is the source of our constant inflation,” Firsching said. He also said he would “work to eliminate budget deficits” because government debt is “strangling the country.”

On issues the military and intelligence agencies, Davis said he is concerned about the National Security Agency's data reach.

“I share the concern of many Americans about the privacy of our conversations and I'm working hard to ensure we understand the nature and extent of the intrusion as well as to prevent it from happening again in the future,” Davis said.

Harold said the NSA's “surveillance activities have run afoul of the Fourth Amendment's privacy protections. She said she would rein in that program and supports proposed USA Freedom Act goals to limit “the NSA's expansive collection of citizens' communications records and reforming the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court.”

Firsching said he would seek to repeal the Patriot Act, de-fund the NSA, and he would “not have the TSA (Transportation Security Administration) in charge of airport security.”